Pay & Benefits
Trump’s 2027 pay freeze has unions warning of recruitment, retention problems
Critics of President Trump’s plan to keep most federal employees’, save for federal law enforcement officers and military service members, pay at 2026 levels say it picks winners and losers.
Oversight
Federal disability employment program faced widespread compliance problems, whistleblower investigation finds
The AbilityOne Commission countered that “many of the compliance concerns cited by [the Office of Special Counsel] occurred during periods of operational disruption, including the pandemic.”
Exclusive
Management
‘Not our decision,’ USPS chief says, as agency faces mail-in voting lawsuits and a looming cash crisis once more
Postmaster General David Steiner says USPS “is not a political organization,” as it carefully navigates its way through yet another round of election mail lawsuits and urges Congress for help to avoid running out of cash.
Management
Why a smaller government isn't automatically better
COMMENTARY | Downsizing without a plan is a recipe for failure. History shows that smarter workforce reductions require more than just cuts.
Sponsor Content
Here for the journey: How Elsevier helps funders build research impact stories
Turn research into measurable impact. Discover how data, AI and storytelling can demonstrate research’s real world value.
Workforce
Here’s what Trump’s new ‘Space Academy’ could mean for the US military
A new source for commissioned officers—but is it needed?
Tech
National Archives says agencies’ AI use does not automatically create federal records
New guidance from the National Archives and Records Administration outlines when agencies should preserve AI-related materials as federal records and notes there is no “one size fits all” approach to doing so.
Pay & Benefits
Trump formally proposes pay freeze for most federal workers, 3.8% increase for law enforcement
In a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson, the president claimed that denying the federal workforce a pay raise will not hurt agency recruitment and retention efforts.
Sponsor Content
How AI is unlocking faster, more accessible geospatial intelligence
Discover how agentic AI is transforming geospatial intelligence into real time insights for faster, smarter government decisions.
Tech
OPM memo pushes agencies to speed up hiring with AI
The federal human resources agency is exploring new AI tools for USA JOBS, USA Staffing and other USA hiring tools as agencies use AI in their hiring processes, according to the memo.
FEATURED INSIGHTS
Oversight
DHS watchdog says Noem-era policy hampered probe into FEMA employees skipping homes with Trump signs
Auditors found that the Federal Emergency Management Agency also did not provide consistent Hatch Act training to employees.
Workforce
Agencies have a new question to answer about employee misconduct
COMMENTARY | New rules could give agencies another way to act on misconduct uncovered through continuous vetting. The challenge will be making sure they’re ready to use it.
Workforce
EEOC votes to propose new rule stripping feds of hearing rights, class action complaints
Members of the public have just 30 days to digest and submit comments on a 130-page plan upending the process for alleging workplace discrimination at federal agencies.
TSP TICKER
FUND
G
F
C
S
I
AUG 31 CLOSE
$20.1747
$20.8475
$123.8857
$116.5737
$66.1362
DAILY CHANGE
0.0082
-0.0209
-0.4064
-0.4272
-0.0888
THIS MONTH (%)
0.41
0.40
2.72
2.27
3.32
FUND
L 2070
L 2060
L 2050
L 2040
L 2030
L INCOME
AUG 31 CLOSE
$14.6743
$24.7630
$47.0118
$75.8349
$63.7801
$31.0984
DAILY CHANGE
-0.0386
-0.0650
-0.1028
-0.1424
-0.0842
-0.0162
THIS MONTH (%)
2.85
2.86
2.43
2.19
1.75
1.11
FUND
AUG 31
CLOSE
CLOSE
DAILY
CHANGE
CHANGE
THIS
MONTH
MONTH
G
$20.1747
0.0082
0.41
F
$20.8475
-0.0209
0.40
C
$123.8857
-0.4064
2.72
S
$116.5737
-0.4272
2.27
I
$66.1362
-0.0888
3.32
L 2070
$14.6743
-0.0386
2.85
L 2060
$24.7630
-0.0650
2.86
L 2050
$47.0118
-0.1028
2.43
L 2040
$75.8349
-0.1424
2.19
L 2030
$63.7801
-0.0842
1.75
L INCOME
$31.0984
-0.0162
1.11
Tech
NSA wants access to ‘all’ AI models, top official says
The spy agency is taking a key role in the government’s new voluntary model-testing program, though its deputy director did not say which companies are participating.
Pay & Benefits
Want to retire at the end of 2026? Start planning now
OPM is still working through a sizable retirement backlog, and year-end retirees have plenty to sort out before they leave federal service.
Management
Data from Labor employees seeking disability accommodations impacted by 'internal incident'
The Labor Department is telling employees about an “internal incident report” in which an individual sent employees' sensitive health information to their personal email address.
Management
Pushed out by the Trump administration, these ex-feds want to make agency firings simpler and fairer
Across 12 cases that were analyzed for a new report on federal firing reform, it took an average 19 months for the underperforming employee to be removed or otherwise leave the position.
Oversight
Lawmakers call for watchdog review of DOT’s passenger privacy practices
The Transportation Department “has never taken a single enforcement action related to privacy,” Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., and Rep. Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, said in a letter to the Government Accountability Office.
Management
GSA's $13 billion fraud claim relies on cases predating task force
The settlements cited add up to just $117 million, and at least one case predates the Trump administration.
Management
Politicizing government investments hurts all of us
COMMENTARY | What happens when political appointees, rather than career experts, get the final say over where federal dollars go?
Workforce
Unions: OPM’s suitability and performance management overhauls assert ‘plenary’ authority over federal firing
A coalition of labor groups sued the Trump administration Monday, arguing recent moves to centralize authority within the Office of Personnel Management and insert subjective criteria into employee evaluations amount to an end-run around the 1978 Civil Service Reform Act.
Oversight
GSA says it’s uncovered ‘record-setting’ $13B in suspected procurement fraud
The White House added General Services Administration fraud estimates to its website that serves as a ledger for suspected fraud across the federal government.
Management
Agencies backfilled 20,600 employees who left government under the deferred resignation programs, analysis finds
The Office of Personnel Management disputed the findings and countered that the analysis also shows around 85% of the DRP separations were not replaced.
Management
State Department board’s ability to challenge firings undercut by DOJ
Critics of the decision say the Justice Department's opinion is another step in the Trump administration's goal of making it easier to fire federal employees who are not fully aligned with its policy goals.
Management
Blanche is confirmed. Now Congress needs to hold him accountable
COMMENTARY | A former Justice Department staffer argues that Congress must protect whistleblowers and demand answers when the agency crosses the line.
